The motto “In God We Trust” is credited to Francis Scott Key, who wrote a version of it into a later verse of “The Star-Spangled Banner” (we usually only sing the first verse).

The motto first appeared on U.S. coins during the Civil War and now is inscribed on all coins and dollar bills.

The motto has withstood legal challenges from groups that said it violated the separation of church and state. Courts have held that the motto is “ceremonial Deism,” not an official endorsement of religion.

So, it doesn't matter if you're from the US or not. What do you think? Is this really how congress should be spending their time? And should "In God We Trust" stand as a national motto or not? Obviously this won't change anything. I just want to hear everyone's opinions.

I saw that. I couldn't help but chuckle, then feel bad these guys are the ones calling the shots..

Where I agree the motto shouldn't be there, I wish they'd at least take it off the money, as their god does have a commandment against the coveting of goods, and as greed is one of our seven deadly sins, it just seems sacrilegious to put the name of the Christian God on the source of modern greed. That's just my opinion though.

God does indeed have no place in civilized society, however as you can probably tell, there are plenty of uncivilized people in this country. Not just the stereotypical south, but all over people are screaming that the motto should not be changed, as I quote from angry ranters who came on the radio yesterday, as well as others, screaming that our forefathers founded this country in God's name. Now, I don't know for sure, but I've read that our forefathers were deists, as in they didn't really found this country on the premise of Christianity reigning supreme, but to allow the earliest settlers to be able to practice religion as they saw fit, which is why freedom of religion is number 1 on our constitution. But somehow, history has been twisted to force the earliest settlers into being Christian. This is what I've read and learned anyways, which I believe more than "George Washington, Ben Franklin, and all those other guys were Christians, and founded this country with God in mind!".. Anyways here are the quotes. Interesting reads, to just plain... well... ignorant.

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It is what our country was founded on and without GOD our great nation will FAIL!

Love this one.. yes, God is the only reason we have yet to completely fail as a nation.

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i think it should stay because it is a principle that our country was founded upon and because if they get to change that then it's just a short step into them thinking they can change other things and then in no time we won't be the same country that we were intended to be we were founded on things that could be applied always and would hold us up through everything but if they go to change those things they verywell may change our security and the way our country is supposed to be it will no longer by a country by the people for the people it will be a country ran by people who think they are better than us and try to gain control we'll fall just like rome did.

I love the tidbit about without god in the motto, we'll become a country ran by people who think they're better than us and try to gain control. It's funny that this happened a LONG time ago but people can't bear to admit it.

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This Nation was built upon ONE GOD,the creator of the Heaven and earth,the creator of all things in this world. Why would we change our motto? The same reason they took the pledge of allegiance out of schools? Just so they don't offend the non-believers of this world? I don't know anybody else on here but why would you want to change history? Why would they want to change state flags? Because this nation is ignorant on their history,the real history that they quit teaching in public schools. Because some ignorant people spoke they change things,when are the knowledgeable people gonna speak? This is our nation that God put us in! ONE NATION UNDER GOD,IN GOD WE TRUST.

This one was passionate, but inaccurate. The pledge is still in schools, though I think it should be completely voluntary for a child to add the line "Under God". And I love how they believe non-Christians as ignorant, and call for more knowledgeable people, probably meaning someone who actually believes in God.

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Thats the problem these liberal fucks keep trying to take God out of everything!! Yes it should be left our national motto!!! And we need to keep these fucking hippies out of office before they destroy every bit of our nations history!!!!! We need a Civil War II... Liberals vs Republicans... So we can finally take those dumb fucking hippy loving faggots off the map.

This one's my favorite, because I'm not sure if they're serious(Georgia IS the buckle of the bible belt after all) or just playing. Either way, it just made me think "Wow.. I live in this guy's home state...

It's come up, yeah, that those in charge seem to want to believe they themselves are gods and the common folk need to bow to their will, then again that's how corporations work too. Sure, you'll get a decent boss from time to time but usually you're treated like a sub-human who's only purpose is to be their willing puppet. And that's the world for you.

I'm really sad that you have to live in the US Light Reaper, seems like the country is getting a little dumber everyday.

Every day? ha I would claim that to be every second.

Personally I don't think that "god" should be involved at all the "proud" U.S of A was built upon the idea of separation of church and state. Yet every day I see "god" taking affect on more people and their thoughts and decisions. I may just be a worthless agnostic but this alleged "god" whom people seem to rely on more and more needs to either show up and prove to my own eyes that he is real or needs to drop out of the picture pretty darn quick.

I'm really sad that you have to live in the US Light Reaper, seems like the country is getting a little dumber everyday.

Every day? ha I would claim that to be every second.

Personally I don't think that "god" should be involved at all the "proud" U.S of A was built upon the idea of separation of church and state. Yet every day I see "god" taking affect on more people and their thoughts and decisions. I may just be a worthless agnostic but this alleged "god" whom people seem to rely on more and more needs to either show up and prove to my own eyes that he is real or needs to drop out of the picture pretty darn quick.

Bullshit buddy. This here great US of A was built on the principle of Natural Rights. These rights were endowed by our Creator. No where will you find in our fine Constitution the phrase "separation of church and state" or anything much like it. What you will find is the idea that, unlike Britain at the time, there was not to be an official State religion e.g. The Church of England. The government was to have no role in telling you what to believe. The intention was NOT that the government actively maintain that there wasn't something to believe in.

I'm really sad that you have to live in the US Light Reaper, seems like the country is getting a little dumber everyday.

What great country do you live in?

T.C.

TC really? Are you asking me to divulge the place of my birth just so you can point out it's faults? I never said that it was better then the US, just that the US is in a sad state.

But if it means that much to you then go click the little button to my profile and take a look.

No. I'm asking where you presently live. It was an assumption but you left me with the impression that you thought it superior to the US.

Making further assumptions that you live in this superior country and that the country is the one listed in your profile, I prefer not having a king and I think socialism is immoral. That said, at least you guys use the revenue from your insanely high tax rates for stuff that actually does something. I get taxed at nearly the same rate (between Fed and State taxes) and get bupkiss for it. Of course your country can spend less on its military (meaning it is smaller, not that it is crappy) since the US is the de facto protector of the West, a fact that Europeans love to decry yet do not hesitate to happily take full advantage of it. But I digress.

I would love to say that your country is stupid and sucks and the US is completely superior. It would start a great little flame war and I'm sure we'd all have a good time with it. I haven't been to Scandinavia so I don't have an opinion about the quality of the country. That said, I do appreciate that I don't have to prove anything to the Government in order to own a gun.

As far as the country getting dumber every day goes. Fuck you. That is just a stupid, ignorant, and arrogant statement based on. . .what?

Yeah, every other country in the world is just dazzling each other with their collective intelligence.

I'm really sad that you have to live in the US Light Reaper, seems like the country is getting a little dumber everyday.

Every day? ha I would claim that to be every second.

Personally I don't think that "god" should be involved at all the "proud" U.S of A was built upon the idea of separation of church and state. Yet every day I see "god" taking affect on more people and their thoughts and decisions. I may just be a worthless agnostic but this alleged "god" whom people seem to rely on more and more needs to either show up and prove to my own eyes that he is real or needs to drop out of the picture pretty darn quick.

Bullshit buddy. This here great US of A was built on the principle of Natural Rights. These rights were endowed by our Creator. No where will you find in our fine Constitution the phrase "separation of church and state" or anything much like it. What you will find is the idea that, unlike Britain at the time, there was not to be an official State religion e.g. The Church of England. The government was to have no role in telling you what to believe. The intention was NOT that the government actively maintain that there wasn't something to believe in.

What is your kick with "god?"

T.C.

My kick? I don't really have one I am just not one for putting all my faith into something or some one I can't see, and there is no actual evidence that is there.

You do make a point there though, I don't know why I had thought that separation of church and state was in the constitution. Now I am going to have to go re-read a few things before I can contribute to this conversation.

I may just be a worthless agnostic but this alleged "god" whom people seem to rely on more and more needs to either show up and prove to my own eyes that he is real or needs to drop out of the picture pretty darn quick.

That sounds to me like you are frustrated with "god."

Two things that spring to mind as possible evidence that he has shown up is the Creation Argument (I couldn't find a good link for it but the creation argument is, in a nut shell, the world and the universe is too damn cool to be nothing more than a random or accidental cosmic event) and First Cause.

Nothing iron clad but then no position is. You cannot escape faith regardless of your position.

I believe in a creator of course but not a deity whom dictates what happens in our day to day lives. Rather, I believe the creator to be more like someone who created the universe via the big bang and then sits back and allows the world to evolve on its own. Like an ant farm, we are being observed, but not interfered with. I agree that the universe can't have simply been an accidental cosmic force, but rather an event set up by a creator unbeknownst to us. This would have to mean that we cannot possibly be the only beings in this universe, considering the size of the universe. Unless of course we were some isolated incident that managed to take life whilst other bodies in the cosmos could not, but I don't think so.

In either case, I don't believe that God has a place among us. Not that God's not real, but I don't believe in putting faith in God as I don't think God has anything to do with us, merely creating us and is possibly observing us, as we observe cells and atoms. But we can go on this forever. Like if the creator made us, who made the creator? Curious.

But back to the American motto. I don't really care whether or not it's changed. The majority of the US seems to be primarily Christian, so they appreciate the inclusion of God, despite what others think. There are many mottos they could replace it with, but it would upset anyone who thinks God is our greatest strength. What about E Pluribus Unum? Some of the state mottos seem to do well to represent the idea of america as well, such as Iowa's "Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain", Illinois's "State sovereignty, national union", or perhaps Massachusetts "Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem", meaning "By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty".

Who knows? All I know is that they really shouldn't be wasting time on things like this. Not that it doesn't have a time, but still..